This is a special episode in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Our Say My Name Campaign highlights the importance of creating spaces for AAPI communities to express and share their culture, their identities, and the way they relate to their heritage. The voices you hear in this episode belong to many AAPI advocates, allies, community members, artists, and individuals who shape and create the diversity of this city and this country. Thank you to everyone who participated. 

#AAPIHeritageMonth2022

In this episode, Natalia Garzon sits down with Nicole Kang Ahn, a second-generation Korean American artist whose styles delve into love, loss, womanhood and her heritage. Nicole and Natalia talk about art, childhood, womanhood, motherhood, and the shared emotions of immigrant communities. They also talk about art and activism, the Atlanta Spa Shootings, Korean food on Buford Highway, and why Lizzo and Ali Wong are important for future generations of women. 

If you'd like to take a look at Nicole's art and support her you can check out these links:

Nicole's Instagram: @nicolekangahn

And this is the link to the ABC's of AAPIs exhibit, which is available on the Beltline until June 30, 2022: https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/abcs-of-aapis-coloring-book

In this episode of Voices of a Highway, we celebrate the 6 days in April that honor languages. Executive Director, Lily Pabian, sits down with Nancy Tai, the Principal of Taiwan Mandarin Learning Center, right off Buford Highway. The Taiwan Mandarin Learning Center offers cultural programs in addition to Mandarin Chinese language classes and serve around 100 students at the moment. These students include second and third generation Asian Americans and people who simply are interested in learning Chinese language and cultures. 

Language is important to the heart of Buford Highway's diversity and this episode gives us a glimpse into the innerworkings of language teaching, the importance of Chinese culture and language along the corridor, and of course, the passion from an advocate like Nancy. 

In this episode, Executive Director Lily Pabian sits down with Nury Castillo Crawford, a spirited entrepreneur, author of “3,585 Miles to be an American Girl” and founder of 1010 Publishing, a company that promotes a passion for reading by delivering bilingual stories that represent our immigrant communities. Nury shares her immigrant story, her journey as a Latina educator and writer, and her passion for reading, learning, and empowering young children who are finding their voice and their story in this country. Make sure to listen and share with parents and family members that you think would enjoy this powerful story.

In this episode, Natalia Garzon sits down with Aixa Pascual, an organizational leader on Buford Highway. Aixa, a Puerto Rico native, is currently a senior communications marketing strategist for the Atlanta Regional Commission and most recently, was managing director of communications/marketing, advocacy, community relations and arts/culture at the Latin American Association, the largest agency in Georgia dedicated to serving Latino immigrants.

Aixa also is the founder of the Club de Lectura, a 5 year old book club that reads Latin American literature (in Spanish) every month. For more information on the book club, check out their website here. You can also watch this short documentary about them here. 

This episode sheds light on the importance of reading, literature, and discussion for immigrants in Atlanta. Aixa and Natalia talk about their experiences as club members, some of the books they recommend, and most importantly, why this community is important on Buford Highway. 

En este episodio Natalia Garzón se sienta con Cynthia Román Hernandez, una mujer de Puerto Rico que trabaja como directora del programa de bienestar familiar para la Asociacion Latinoamericana, la agencia líder de la región para las comunidades latinas en Georgia. En esta entrevista (en español) Cynthia y Natalia hablan de ser inmigrantes, del efecto que tuvo la pandemia en el equipo liderado por Cynthia, de la fatiga por compasión y de los lugares favoritos que le dan vida a Buford Highway. 

Si les gusta este episodio no duden en compartirlo con sus familiares y amigos. Gracias Cynthia! 

In this episode, Executive Director Lily Pabian sits down with James Han, a rapper and songwriter from Atlanta, GA. The son of Korean immigrants, Uzuhan raps about cultural identity, faith, and self-acceptance. Raised on Hip-Hop, Disco, and Korean folk music, Uzuhan explores his identity through his music. In this episode, James and Lily talk about AAPI identity, the importance of Buford Highway for music and culture, and what it means to grow up as a first generation American in the United States.

Make sure to check out Uzuhan's music. Here is a link to the song that Lily and James talk about: https://open.spotify.com/track/6uDItEJh3yHqhDfRW46KkQ?si=6b74727a8ed543a3

And if you liked this episode, please share and leave a review. We'd love to hear from you!

To celebrate a full year of episodes, Voices of a Highway is having a special holiday season sit-down session with We Love Buford Highway's leadership. Executive Director, Lily Pabian, and Community Engagement Director, Natalia Garzón, talk about their upbringings, their journeys to Buford Highway, their must-go-to places along the corridor and what their hopes are for the organization's future. If you'd like to learn more about the hearts behind the work this non-profit continues to do, listen to this episode and share with those around you. 

October celebrates Filipino American History, a month to raise awareness on the significant role Filipinos have played and continue to play in American history. This time we invited Martin Gustilo, owner of Manila Mart on Buford Highway (5938 Buford Hwy NE). We also invited Jaren Abedania, a proud We Love Buford Highway Board Member. Both men talked about their traditions, their histories, and their relationships to their Filipino and Filipino-American roots. Together we discussed the importance of food, language, cultural acceptance, reckoning with our history and our past and most importantly, celebrating the uniqueness and multicultural identity of Buford Highway. 

Check out the episode and share with your friends and family!

In this episode, Executive Director Lily Pabian interviews Angela Maria Vellino, a first generation Colombian-American who grew up on Buford Highway. This short and sweet interview to celebrate the end of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month teaches us about preserving the cultural traditions and stories our immigrant parents and families raised us with. Angela talks all about being bilingual, fitting in, living the American Dream, and honoring her grandmother, great-grandfather, and mother every day. A heartfelt and inspiring story about what it means to be a Latina in Atlanta today. 

If you like this episode, let us know! And share this beautiful story with your friends and family. Make sure to tag us in social media @welovebuhi